The North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington on 4 April 1949. The Treaty forms the cornerstone of transatlantic defence and security policy and has been central to the development of a more peaceful and stable post-Cold War Europe.

 

It still provides the collective defence for the UK and other NATO allies, and the key forum for transatlantic cooperation on defence and security.

 

But NATO has changed radically in recent years to meet the new threats and security challenges of the 21st century, including those presented by terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. NATO has enlarged to include new members (with Albania and Croatia joining most recently, in April 2009) and has taken on new military missions to help to bring greater stability to the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq.

 

NATO continues to develop and to set up new programmes of partnership, co-operation and dialogue, engaging with countries from the Republic of Ireland to Kazakhstan, and including a special strategic relationship with Russia following the creation of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in May 2002.

 

The UK, a founder member of the Alliance, plays a full and active part in NATO. We are a major financial contributor and almost all UK Armed Forces and capabilities can be assigned to NATO in times of crises. The UK provides key capabilities to NATO and we have been major contributors to all NATO operations.

 

The UK Delegation's role is to promote British interests in NATO and to keep Ministers and Government Departments informed about NATO discussions. The Delegation is a Diplomatic Mission headed by an Ambassador, Sir Stewart Eldon, and the UK's Military Representative to NATO, Lieutenant General David Bill. The Mission is staffed by civilian personnel from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and from all three Armed Services. This is because NATO has both a political and a military structure for consultations and consensus decision-making. The Delegation works to ensure that the UK plays a full and influential role in the North Atlantic Council, the Military Committee and across the spectrum of NATO activities.

 

We also work with Government Departments in London, primarily the FCO and the MOD, and with colleagues in the EU and the UN. We also maintain contact with Parliamentarians, Non-Government organisations, academics, think tanks, the media and with British companies (through our Business Opportunities pages).